Festival death treated as murder

Mr Treharne died on Sunday

Police have launched a murder inquiry into the death of a man attacked at Bristol's International Balloon Fiesta on Saturday evening.

Colin Philip Treharne, 21, of Lawrence Weston, died in hospital of head injuries, a post-mortem examination revealed.

The assault took place at the Ashton Court estate in the city.

A team of 40 police officers have been talking to festival-goers at the site of the attack in search for witnesses.

Avon and Somerset Police said the site was busy at the time of the assault, and urged visitors to come forward with information.

Violent death

Mr Treharne was attacked close to the fairground near the Mansion House at about 1930 BST, and died on Sunday at Frenchay Hospital.

The area of the attack was cordoned off while officers searched for clues.

His family has asked for privacy to come to terms with the loss, which they said had come "as a complete shock".

The organisers of the otherwise successful event, which attracted record crowds and balloonists from across Europe, also expressed their dismay at the violent death of a member of the public.

Fiesta event director Susan Tanner said: "This is a tragedy for this man and his family and we are shocked and upset to think that something like this could happen at the Fiesta, which is essentially a family event.

"We are helping the police as much as we can with their investigation and we would urge people to give any assistance they can."

Thousands of people were at Ashton Court on Saturday evening for the final "night glow" of the four-day ballooning event.